Entries in NH GOP
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Concord - New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Jennifer Horn released the following statement today on the Clinton Campaign's use of a rope line to protect the arrogant Democrat frontrunner on a public street at Gorham's annual Independence Day parade:

"Hillary Clinton continues to demonstrate her obvious contempt and disdain for the Granite State's style of grassroots campaigning. The use of a rope line at a New Hampshire parade is a sad joke and insults the traditions of our First-in-the-Nation primary. Today, Republican presidential candidates marched in parades across New Hampshire that were open to the public without obstruction from their staff. Their efforts to reach out to voters and engage in retail campaigning stand in sharp contrast to Secretary Clinton's arrogant and shameful behavior."

"Governor Hassan's reckless budget veto has put critical state services for New Hampshire's most needy at risk," said NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn. "We are only beginning to see the serious consequences of Governor Hassan's politically-motivated veto. Governor Hassan should put her political ambitions aside and recognize that the needs of vulnerable Granite Staters are more important than career advancement."

Yesterday, WMUR covered the case of Doris Brown, a 92-year-old Laconia woman who had her home health care terminated. The budget Governor Hassan vetoed included a 5% increase in home health care funding.

Governor Hassan has a history of putting funding for vulnerable Granite Staters first on the chopping block. Earlier this year, nursing home residents demanded Governor Hassan restore $7 million in cuts in nursing home and home health care funding.

On Monday, the Associated Press said the "budget would have doubled money in prevention, treatment and recovery" for New Hampshire's "growing heroin and prescription drug abuse problem." Tym Rourke, Chair of Governor Hassan's Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, said that the lack of increased funding means "continued waitlists" and "continued overdose deaths".

BACKGROUND

Associated Press: "Budget Would Have Doubled Money In Prevention, Treatment And Recovery" "Throughout the budget process, Republicans and Democrats alike called for greater efforts to address the state's growing heroin and prescription drug abuse problem. The budget would have doubled money in prevention, treatment and recovery fund to $6.7 million, allowing the state to begin investing in now-lacking recovery programs. Without the additional funding, the state can't start issuing requests for proposals for new programs and providers. (Kathleen Ronayne, "New Hampshire agencies, programs face budgetary uncertainty," Associated Press, 6/29/2015)

Associated Press: "For People Who Need Help, Advocates Say, The Delay Will Have Real Consequences...'That Means Continued Waitlists, That Means Continued Overdose Deaths'" "For people who need help, advocates say, the delay will have real consequences...'That means continued waitlists, that means continued overdose deaths,' said Tym Rourke, chair of the Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery. 'There is no substantive change we can expect to see around the substance abuse epidemic until we have the ability to provide those expanded services.'" (Kathleen Ronayne, "New Hampshire agencies, programs face budgetary uncertainty," Associated Press, 6/29/2015)

"Kelly Ayotte consistently ranks as one of the most effective and bipartisan members of the United States Senate. She has represented Granite Staters with honor and distinction by working across the aisle to expand access to health care for our veterans, combat sexual assault in the military and end Washington's government shutdown. Kelly is committed to the traditional New Hampshire principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility, and she has earned another term in the United States Senate." - NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn

Ayotte Was Ranked As The Seventh Most Bipartisan Member Of The Senate. ("The Bipartisan Index: Senate Scores," The Lugar Center, Accessed 6/29/15)

The Washington Post Ranked Ayotte As The Fourth Most Likely Senator To Cross Party Lines. (Philip Bump, "Here Are The Members Of Congress Who Vote Against Their Party The Most," The Washington Post, 6/11/15)

Ayotte Helped End The Government Shutdown and Co-Sponsored Legislation To Help Ensure It Would Never Happen Again. ("Senate women lead in effort to find accord," The New York Times, 10/14/13; S. 29, "End Government Shutdowns Act," Ayotte Co-Sponsored, Introduced 1/22/13)

In 2014, Ayotte Worked With Senator Shaheen To Help New Hampshire Veterans Get Health Care Closer To Home. "The Senate passed a veterans reform package last night that contains a provision benefiting those in New Hampshire, where seeking care at Veterans Affairs facilities can sometimes mean traveling outside the state. New Hampshire Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen teamed up to include a provision that allows veterans to get care outside of VA facilities. The bill - which also addresses issues regarding wait times at VA facilities across the nation - passed the Senate on a 91-3 vote. It passed in the House, 420-5, earlier this week, and now heads to President Obama for his signature." (Casey McDermott, "Senate Passes VA Reform Bill, Including Key Provision Meant To Benefit N.H. Veterans," Concord Monitor, 7/31/14)

In 2013, Ayotte Worked With Senator Murray On A Bill To Combat Sexual Assault In The Military. "Several provisions of a bill to combat military sexual assault introduced by Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA and Sen. Kelly Ayotte R-NH, have been included in legislation under consideration by the Senate Armed Services Committee. They include a measure to provide victims of sexual assault with a special victims counsel - a military lawyer who would assist sexual-assault victims throughout the legal process. Another provision would help improve the tracking of military sexual-assault statistics." (Hal Bernton, "Military Sexual Assault Bill Includes Provisions From Patty Murray, Seattle Times, 6/12/13)

In 2015, Ayotte Worked With Senator Shaheen On A Bill To Protect Pregnant Workers. "But not every employer follows Badger's model to provide accommodations for the needs of pregnant workers. That's why U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte have sponsored a bill to require employers to make reasonable adjustments for employees who have limitations due to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. Those accommodations could include allowing the woman to carry a water bottle, despite a policy against food or drinks on the job, or providing a stool for a pregnant employee who normally stands during work." (Megan Doyle, "Ayotte, Shaheen Sponsor Bill To Protect Pregnant Workers, Concord Monitor, 6/6/15)

In 2014, Ayotte Worked With Senator Shaheen On A Bill To Assist Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injuries. "New Hampshire Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen say a bill on its way to President Barack Obama will enhance treatment services for veterans living with traumatic brain injuries. The senators introduced legislation that would modify a pilot program created in 2008 to place veterans with these severe injuries in residential living programs. About 200 veterans have participated in the program, including a number of New Hampshire veterans who were treated at Robin Hill Farm, a community-based center in Hillsboro that provides brain injury rehabilitation services." ("Ayotte, Shaheen Support Bill For Injured Veterans, The Associated Press, 12/17/14)

Ayotte Voted To Permanently Reauthorize The Land And Water Conservation Fund. "Burr, R-N.C., amendment no. 92, as modified, that would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It would also require that at least 1.5 percent of funds be made available each fiscal year for projects that secure public access to federal land for fishing, hunting and other recreational purposes." (S. Amdt 92, To S. Amdt 2 To S. 1, Roll Call Vote #43, Amendment Rejected 59-39, 1/29/15, Ayotte Voted Yea; CQ Summary Accessed 6/29/15)

Ayotte Sponsored Bipartisan Legislation To Ensure That Death Benefits For Fallen Service Members Are Not Subject To Federal Taxes. (S. 322, "Don't Tax Our Fallen Public Safety Heroes Act," Ayotte Sponsored, Introduced 1/29/15, became Public Law 114-14)

Concord - The New Hampshire Republican State Committee today reset the Governor Hassan Shutdown Clock featured on www.nhgop.org after Governor Hassan vetoed the budget and signed a six-month continuing resolution. The clock will continue to serve as a reminder that Governor Hassan's politically-motivated actions have threatened state services and caused uncertainty for New Hampshire job creators as she plots a campaign for the United States Senate.

"Governor Hassan's irresponsible veto of the Legislature's budget has threatened core services and blocked efforts to cut taxes and create more good paying jobs. New Hampshire is facing months of fiscal uncertainty because of Governor Hassan's failed leadership and unwillingness to compromise," said NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn. "Now more than ever, New Hampshire deserves a full time governor instead of a calculating politician who is obsessed with plotting her next career move. It's time for Governor Hassan to put partisan politics aside, rule out a United States Senate campaign and devote her full attention to fixing the budget crisis that she created."

"It's Hassan who so far is firing off the harshest rhetoric and appears most motivated by political ambition," wrote theTelegraph,referencing Hassan's plans to run for United States Senate in 2016. "And that's why the governor needs to be careful. If she pushes too hard, she becomes just another politician sacrificing her commitment to bipartisanship simply to advance her political career."

Hassan has refused to follow the bipartisan example set by her predecessor, former Democrat Governor John Lynch. Despite disagreements with the FY 12-13 biennium budget crafted by a Republican legislature, Lynch refused to veto it because of the long-term risk to state government. He worried that a veto could lead to an eventual shutdown and would "create chaos in state government"if a budget was not in place byJuly 1.

As of this writing, there are184days, 15 hours and 29 minutes until Governor Hassan's Government Shutdown.

"Governor Hassan's politically-motivated veto is both reckless and irresponsible. The budget passed by the Legislature would have kept taxes low, funded critical state services and lived within our means. Governor Hassan has ignored the clear warnings of serious concerns voiced by business leaders and health advocates about the consequences of her actions. The governor's irresponsible veto deprives important programs of crucial funding increases and jeopardizes job growth in New Hampshire."